The Book of Magic by Alice Hoffman is a sequel to her beloved Practical Magic, and continues the story of the Owens family of witches and their curse. When Jet Owens hears the death watch beetle she knows her time on this earth is drawing to a close, and before she dies she longs to break the curse that has followed the family for generations causing them to tragically lose the people that they love. Her determination leads her to uncover how the curse could be broken, but her time runs out before she can do anything about it. It may be just in time to save the latest generation of the family however, as the curse strikes again. Breaking the curse will not be easy, and could even be very dangerous, demanding the highest possible price. Before the story and the curse is ended three generations of the family will have to work together.
I really enjoyed the conclusion to the Owens family saga, and seeing a new generation of the family as well as reconnecting with some familiar faces. The story is dramatic but does meander a little at times, which in no way reduced my enjoyment of the book. As always the writing is beautiful and several passages gave me moment to pause and consider.
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this brilliant book

the second book in this wonderful series and one that will give you all the answers you need....

the owens family cursed in love but its all about to come to ahead where acts of betrayal and love rear its ugly head.....

its well written and grips you right to the end...another book that you will lose time over. but its oh so worth it...

cant wait to see what is next from this author

This book marks the end of the Practical Magic series. A series I have really enjoyed, once I found out it was a book before it was a film. A film that actually really did the book justice so, in a minority there! So, I assume you know the Owen's family curse. A curse that has plagued them for over 300 years and which has upset their love lives throughout that time.
We start in the library where Jet hears the deathwatch beetle and knows that her time is coming. She has, in fact, only seven days left alive. Time enough to contact her brother, lost to her and sister Franny for a while, but it's the right time. But before she goes, she has time to address the curse, not to break it, that's for someone else, but there are wheels that can be set in motion. For others to continue.
And continue they do. And I won't spoil things by saying any more. Suffice to say we travel well and meet interesting characters along the way. All in the name of family and, of course, love.
What I really loved about the book, as well as reconnecting with Jet, Franny, Sally and Gillian, was meeting Vincent, the long-lost estranged brother. I also got to see how Kylie and Antonia were going. They really are a wonderful cast of characters, some of whom I have really loved getting to know along the way. In fact, now their stories have been completed I am feeling a little sad at having to say goodbye to them.
The magic contained herein is also quite stunning. And, in the context, wholly believable. We have some rather nefarious dark forces and corresponding dark characters, with their own agendas to try and put the kybosh on things for the Owens. There really is quite a lot going on in this book as it does tend to fly off at a tangent every so often as it meanders to the end. But I think as long as you keep the characters straight in your head, you'll be OK following it all. It would probably hep if you have already read the previous books and so know a bit more about the history of the family.
All in all, a worth conclusion to a series I have thoroughly enjoyed and one which I will miss now it has finished. Unless the author has other plans...
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

Alice Hoffman concludes the story of the Owens family, living with the rules of magic, including to harm no-one, cursed through the generations if they fall in love. It begins with the kind and compassionate Jet hearing the deathwatch beetle, aware she has little time, wanting to set matters in motion to address a curse that has brought limitations in life, heartbreak, and tragedy, knowing it will demand the biggest sacrifice to break it. She has her sister Franny in mind, knowing it will require walking the crooked path outlined in the The Book of the Raven, kept hidden in the library, but like all the best laid plans, matters are to take an unexpected turn. Sally, a bitter woman who knows all about loss, has turned away from her true self and the world of magic, and with the best of intentions of protecting her daughters, Kylie and Antonia, has kept them in the dark about their magical inheritance, including the curse.

An unfortunate set of circumstances, because it results in the love of Kylie's life, Gideon, involved in an accident that leaves him in a coma. After railing against Sally, a heartbroken and distraught Kylie takes the Book of the Raven and leaves Boston, Massachusetts, willing to do whatever it takes to break the curse to save Gideon, ending up in London and then Essex, the place of her ancestors with its history of persecuting women and the witch trials. There are reconciliations, Franny with her beloved brother, Vincent, who she hasn't seen for so long when he disappeared to be with the love of his life, the now dead William. Franny, Sally, Vincent, and Gillian follow Kylie's trail, meeting the tattooed Professor Ian Wright who has just completed his life's work, The History of Magic. Sally saves Wright's life, ensuring his help in locating a naive Kylie who finds herself out of her depth with her misplaced trust and in deadly danger.

I am left feeling bereft at the conclusion of Hoffman's series about the generations of the Owens family, the strong women, mixing their potions and elixirs for all those in the community who queue for their help in a wide range of matters. This includes the black soap, courage tea, the myriad of plants, including the poisonous, the herbs and spices, all with their specific natural healing properties and the magical properties of the likes of apple pie. This is a well written, atmospheric and a compulsively readable narrative, of identity, being true to yourself, family, sacrifice, and history. Hoffman shows that at the heart of the most powerful magic of all is love, with a light so strong it can dissipate darkness, with the capacity to instigate the greatest sacrifices. A wonderful novel that I recommend highly. Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.

I struggled with the first few chapters of the book, but that might have more to do with me trying to read it Christmas week, when having a prolonged time to sit and read is impossible. Once I could spend some time with the story I really started to enjoy it. I welcomed the cross generational aspect to the story, and those reminders of everything that had gone before. From Levi Willard's teenage love for Jet, Vincent's years in NYC as a musician and all the way back to Maria Owens and her difficulties accepting the love of Samuel several centuries earlier. There are seeds of hope, as new life comes into the family, as Antonia's love for Ariel takes her by surprise and new familiars seek out their human counterparts. Sally has always been interesting to me and her continued tightrope walk between the magic that is her birth right and her need to stay under the radar and keep her girl's safe. The women are always treading a line between the future they are born with, shown on the right palm and the future they choose, shown on the left. I loved how her story ended, it felt satisfying and even full of hope, given the heartache that went before.
What stood out loud and clear was, that despite being cursed in love, the love the women have for each other is a blessing. In particular, Franny and Jet's love for Sally and Gillian. Brought to the crooked house as small orphans, the aunts loved their nieces as their own and taught them everything they needed to be safe and understand the magic they were born with. Any trouble or danger brought both aunts running to help and protect them, even into their old age and especially in this story. This love stands out stronger than any other in all four books and never dies. Everything I love about Hoffman is there, her wonderful descriptions of nature and the women's links to the natural world. Her descriptions of spells and their effects are fantastical and so vivid, especially the menacing red rain poisoning a whole community. I love that the books celebrate strong women, who support each other and their right to be individuals. This is a fitting end to a series that begins chronologically with persecution, betrayal and death. It ends with a sense of the Owens family being part of a community, playing a bigger part in the world and learning how to utilise their magic in harmony with the world.

A satisfying conclusion to the story of the Owens family, bloodline witches cursed in love across the generations. Hoffman is a fabulous storyteller. She has created a beautiful tapestry that weaves together the present, the past and ghosts of the distant past, with new characters and familiar characters from previous stories, embellished with repeated images and motifs - the libraries, the magnolia trees, water, apple pies and chocolate cakes… The novel takes forward the stories of ‘Practical Magic’ and brings them to a conclusion that is not an ending. Revealing and revelling in Hoffman’s knowledge and passion for witchcraft and literature, the novel never allows us to forget the link between words and magic - not least by using words to create such a magical story. There’s suspense, good battling evil, history, romance and family saga. I loved it and devoured it as though it were chocolate tipsy cake.

The Book of Magic by Alice Hoffman
I give this book 4.5 stars

For centuries, the Owens family has been cursed in matters of love.Unaware of the family’s witchcraft lineage and all it entails, one of the young sisters has fallen in love..Spurring three generations of Owens to venture back to where it all began and use their gifts to break the spell that has marked all their lives.
How much will they give up for the greatest gift of all?

This is book 4 but could possibly be read as a standalone.
Be prepared to be transported into a beautiful world woven with magic and enchanting storytelling.The narrative flows so lyrically and drew me straight in along with such enthralling characters that give this novel added depths.A bewitching tale of witches,curses,family,loss and love, l was engrossed throughout and just couldn’t put it down!
So sad that the story is now complete
With thanks to Netgalley,Alice Hoffman and Simon and Schuster UK, Scribner UK for my chance to read and review this book

I didnt realise that this was the conclusion to practical magic, which I havent read, however, that didnt take away any enjoyment from this book. It was so neuatifully written, almost lyrical in parts, I found the characters engaging and relatable the whole way through and the storyline was immersive and rich. There were moments of love, suspense and of course magic in every sense of the word and I loved it. A really enjoyable read.

3.5 stars

I haven't read practical magic,or seen the film,but I have read and enjoyed a lot of Alice Hoffmans books.
This adds to that list.
Witches that don't know they're witches,family secrets,curses,a quest,chocolate cake and a family I'd embrace for my own... there's a lot of good stuff here.
There's tense moments too... but mostly I enjoyed the charm of the book

An unforgettable novel, full of magic indeed, Alice Hoffman writes in beautiful prose, highly recommended. Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for giving me a copy of the book.

‘Beware of love’ warns ancestor Maria Owens to her descendants, some invoke enchantments to protect them and some have tried to trick the curse but they can’t outrun it. Jet Owens, now in her 80s knows she has only seven days left to live, she’s heard the knock of the death watch beetle and she decides it’s time to change the family‘s destiny. Her niece Sally has twice been a victim of the curse and is now a bitter woman. She’s tried to shield her daughters but when the curse strikes Kylie’s loved one it becomes desperate race against time to save him. They will risk using knowledge contained in the highly dangerous Book of Raven which will demand its price. So settle down with a slice of chocolate tipsy cake and a cup of courage tea as you’ll need it for this last Owens family instalment.

Alice Hoffman has enchanted readers such as myself with the beautiful and magical power of her storytelling. She is a mistress of her craft, her knowledge of spells and remedies seems boundless and these are some of my favourite sections of the book as they are especially lively. The race to seek the solution to break the curse is fraught with danger, all those involved need all the wit and courage and it’s not without sacrifice and sadness. The journey takes us from Massachusetts to England and Paris and Essex in particular provides an atmospheric backdrop. The characters are simply fabulous, one of the hallmarks of the series is the wonderful, strong, loyal women who share the common bond of love. I really like Professor Ian Wright who injects even more technicolour into the storytelling. The novel contains a wonderful message of love and the lengths people go to for those they care for. I really like the ending which I realise is predictable but it’s also a lovely positive way to complete the series.

However, the start is a bit ponderous and slow and the pace does drop from time to time but the quality of the writing is so lyrical that I find I don’t mind that much.

Overall it’s sad to see the series end as all good things do but it’s been a charming and delightful journey .

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Simon and Schuster for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.